DAWN AND THE DONS 130
staged in the patio. This was the Arcadia of the home, a little world of peace, harmony and beauty, a melody of sweet sounds, the twitter of birds, the hum of bees, the splashing and murmur of falling water, and the merry laughter of children. Visitors were received and entertained, the mellow cadence of Spanish conversation blending with the harmonies that filled the air. “In the long summer evenings, there were soft strains of Spanish music from mandolin and guitar, and the hard, earthen floor resounded to the tap-tap of high-heeled slippers, the swish of silken skirts, and the jingle of silver spurs.” Although Spanish custom made love-making a complicated process, Monterey rejoiced when it culminated in the marriage ceremonial that was universally made the occasion of a town fiesta. Nothing was more attractive than the wedding cavalcade on its way from the bride’s house to the Mission church. The horses were richly caparisoned, and the bride’s nearest male relative,
or. family representative, carried her before him, she sitting on the saddle with her white satin shoe in a loop of gold or silver braid, while he sat on the bear-skin
saddle-cloth behind. The groom and his friends, on the best horses obtainable, accompanied the bride’s party. After the ceremony, the bride rode on the horse with her husband, and the cavalcade, usually attended by the. entire village, returned to the home of the bride for luxurious feasting and dancing, which often lasted for several days and nights.
The senoritas looked forward to their wedding day
